South Korea's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Jeong Bit-na stated on the 15th that regarding U.S. Forces Korea Commander Javier Brunson's comments on changing the conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), "If the goalposts keep moving, I believe we can never achieve the transfer of OPCON." The ministry reaffirmed its position that the transfer will proceed based on the conditions and evaluation criteria agreed upon by South Korea and the United States.
During a regular briefing, Jeong responded to a question about whether the U.S. might change the conditions for the transfer by saying she would answer in a "personal capacity." She added, "There are conditions that South Korea and the U.S. mutually agreed upon. Our military has made tremendous efforts over the past 20 years to meet those conditions." This implies that the evaluation criteria should remain consistent, given that the South Korean military has built its capabilities to meet the existing conditions.
Jeong further stated, "From the Ministry of National Defense's perspective, our official position is that we are closely consulting based on the Conditions of Transfer of Wartime Operational Control (COTP) agreed upon by South Korea and the U.S."
Earlier, on the 14th, Brunson remarked at a seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., that "conditions have changed, and we have changed our plans, so new standards have emerged that we must adhere to."
He noted, "Just by skimming the news, one can see that conditions have definitely changed. This week, there was another missile launch from North Korea," citing the threats from North Korea and changes in the security environment.
While identifying himself as a proponent of the OPCON transfer, Brunson emphasized that the existing conditions must be met. He stated that prioritizing timing over conditions is not the approach they are taking, stressing the importance of core capabilities and mission execution.
South Korea and the U.S. have been working towards the OPCON transfer based on the COTP agreed upon during the 2015 Security Consultative Meeting (SCM). The conditions for the transfer include three main criteria: the military capabilities necessary for South Korea to lead combined defense, the alliance's comprehensive response capabilities to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and a stable security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in the region that aligns with a successful transfer. The fulfillment of specific tasks will be jointly evaluated by South Korea and the U.S. and reviewed in regular consultations between the two nations' defense and military authorities.
The key issue appears to be how changes in the security environment will be reflected in the evaluation of the OPCON transfer. While Brunson mentioned North Korea's threats and referred to "new standards," the Ministry of National Defense emphasizes that discussions should adhere to the conditions and evaluation criteria already agreed upon by South Korea and the U.S.
In response to repeated questions about Brunson's remarks, Jeong stated, "It is not appropriate for me to evaluate the comments of the U.S. Forces Korea Commander," avoiding direct assessment. She reiterated, "The principle that the transfer of OPCON will occur when the mutually agreed conditions are met remains unchanged," adding that any remaining discrepancies will be resolved in accordance with the mutually agreed conditions and evaluation criteria during the SCM.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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